United Black Pride kicked off July 1 with a presentation celebrating author/commentator Keith Boykin's 2012 book For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Enough at Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St.
Boykin was scheduled to attend the event in person but airline difficulties prevented him from being there. He spoke by phone, with two local contributors to his collection, L. Michael Gipson and Tim'm West, joining him in person. Marc Loveless of Coalition for Justice and Respect moderated the discussion.
Boykin called the book, which he edited, "a labor of love." He came up with it name, which was a riff on the title to Ntozake Shange's 1975 play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf," first.
"I think the idea was in my head for years, at least the idea for the title—I was just waiting for the opportunity to use it," Boykin said.
The idea for the book's content came to him in late 2010, in the wake of the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi. Boykin questioned a muted media response to a string of suicides by several young gay men of color while, in contrast, a great deal of attention was paid to sensational aspects of the Clementi case.
"I didn't plan on writing it myself. I just wanted someone to do it," he said. Boykin's publisher convinced him to put together the collection, which ultimately consisted of 42 pieces highlighting experiences of young gay men of color.
West, who also does activism work in Chicago, said that his contribution was likewise inspired by that string of suicides related to gay bullying throughout 2009 and 2010. "The media attention to young men of color committing suicide as a result of gay bullying wasn't advertised in the same way as some of their white counterparts—for me it was an opportunity to make sure that their stories also were heard."
He added that his connection to the issue was very personal. "I actually had an attempted suicide—I was one of the boys who could have been a story in here."
West also said that he had been a bully when he was young. He was involved with boxing, but after his father had enthusiastically arranged a match between West and another kid from the neighborhood, which West won, he had enough, throwing down his gloves at his father's feet. His father then forced him to put on his sister's dress and handcuffed him to a tree in the front yard.
"For me bullying became living that experience down," West said. "Most bullies are going through something as well, and have been abused in some way."
But he added that "For Colored Boys" wasn't just a document of hardships. "This book isn't just a sobering book. There are stories about triumph and how people got over situations. There continues to be a lineage of books and writing from brother to brother, and we're contributing to a history in the making."
Gipson, who also does youth activism work, said his essay was a response to the "It Gets Better" campaign.
"It gets better for some, but not everyone is necessarily talented enough, or got over the traumas of their childhood enough, to move forward and not be a victim all their lives," he added. "The reality is that some people are cultivated through this process of being bullied to just accept that."
"Sometimes the bullies don't end up pumping gas. Sometimes they become politicians, judges and corporate leaders, or they become your boss. How can you affirm yourself then and how do you continue to fight?" said Gipson.
According to West, "For Colored Boys" ultimately was a reflection of gay men of color building communities with one another. Citing his own friendship with Gipson, who doesn't live far from him, he added, "We continue to catch each other as we fall and are major support for each other when we have our moments."
But he was careful to say he was not trying to create the idea of unending, redemptive hope once someone steps out of the closet. Even then, he said, "You still have ongoing challenges."
